Wastewater Sparrow ID help

This sparrow was near the Administration feeder. Need some I.D. help. I thought maybe a white-crowned but the dark bill ruined that. 

                          
Rough-legged Hawk along Swanson Road.

Female Northern Cardinal taking a break near the Administration feeder. All shots from Sunday morning.

- Don Neumann

.

Northern Pintails at Wastewater

.

There have been six Northern Pintail mixed in with the Canada Geese and Mallards in the drainage basins along White Road at the Wastewater. I finally caught them by themselves.

- Don Neumann

.

Red-throated Loon, Common Ravens and Redpolls, White-winged Scoter, Etc.

.
A few recent highlights:

On Feb. 20, I saw a Red-throated Loon off Lake Harbor Park. This is the first loon of either species that I have seen in Muskegon County since Dec. 10.

The same day, there was a cooperative flock of 42 Common Redpolls feeding on alder cones at Hidden Cove Park. This provided my highest count of the species this winter.

Nearby, a Swamp Sparrow was calling from atop the cattails just east of Mona Lake, and a male Belted Kingfisher was stationed at the mouth of Black Creek.

A count of 87 Common Mergansers in the little open water at the east end of Mona Lake was my highest so far this year.

On Feb. 23 at Lake Harbor Park, I watched two Common Ravens fly south over the dunes. While the species is still rare in the county, the increase of sightings over the last several years is testament to the southward range expansion of the species.

- Male White-winged Scoter at White Lake Channel -

- Brian Johnson
.

Merlin, Larks and Snipes at W.W. Tuesday

.
February 22 Email to Ric:

I spent some time at the Wastewater today.  I saw an uncooperative Merlin near the administration building, lots and lots of Horned Larks, and four Wilson Snipe still hanging out in the ditches between Maple Island and the Admin. Building.  At first there were only two and then two other came flying in.  I got lucky and caught one in flight. 

Rick Hamlin

.

Heron & Shrike but No Snipes at W.W. Sunday

.

February 21 Email to Ric:

Glenda and I went to the Wastewater Sunday (Feb. 20) hoping to find the Wilson's Snipes, but had no luck.  We did get some close photos of this Great Blue Heron in the drainage ditch on the SW corner of Apple and Swanson.

The news of the day though is the return of the Northern Shrike: same old location on Laketon west of Swanson on the wire near the row of cedars.  We had seen it there three times in November, but I don't think it's been around since then.

- Ken Sapkowski

.

Could I Get Some O.J. with my Seed & Bugs?

.

This American Goldfinch and Brown Creeper stopped by, along with the "usual gang", for breakfast this morning and were kind enough to pose for me.

Mike VanderStelt
.

39 Species on February 19 Field Trip

.
Bird species of note on yesterday morning's MCNC Field Trip to Ottawa County included Peregrine Falcon, Black-legged Kittiwake, White-winged Scoter, Glaucous Gull, Canvasback and Horned Grebe.  Details on our homepage.

- Ric
.

Iceland & Glaucous Gulls at Wastewater - Caleb

.
During a quick run through of the Wastewater today (Feb. 18) I had 2 young Iceland Gulls (one 1st cycle, one probably 2nd cycle), and 2 adult Glaucous Gulls, amongst 450 Herring Gulls on the east lagoon and dump.

Here is the likely 2nd cycle bird:



and here is the 1st cycle:


Good Birding,

- Caleb Putnam
.

Horned Grebe

.

I saw 2 Horned Grebe Wednesday and one Thursday in the Muskegon Channel, both days north side near the USS Silversides.

- Don Neumann

.

Waterfowl and Another Owl 2-16

.
With the warmer weather and the diminishment of ice cover, I've again been checking the waterbird flight along Lake Michigan. Although movement has picked up, I have not seen any new species yet. At White Lake Channel today (Feb. 16), there were 242 Common Goldeneye, 136 Greater Scaup, 14 Redhead, 13 White-winged Scoter, 10 Bufflehead, and 2 Lesser Scaup. Numbers of Cedar Waxwings and Horned Larks have also increased, and yesterday, I watched three larks fly inland from well offshore (but given the southeast winds, not necessarily from across the lake). At my feeders I'm seeing the usual "turnover" of banded birds at this time of year. While the species composition has changed little, the individuals that have spent the winter are becoming scarcer and new visitors have been replacing them.

While checking Lake Michigan from Muskegon State Park, I noticed the Red-headed Woodpeckers were making a big commotion. Checking things out, I could see why.

I've only done one Eastern Screech-Owl survey so far this year. On Feb. 7, I found one Screech-Owl along five stops at Hoffmaster State Park. A Barred Owl began hooting in response to the Screech-Owl's whinny calls.

- Brian

.

Read Before Viewing Picture

. Email, Feb. 15, 2011: Ric, Before you look at the picture below, I wanted to tell you about my experience photographing this little bird today.  He is very good at camouflage, better than most I have seen.  I saw this bird sitting in the tree with my naked eye, then found him in the binoculars to confirm that it was what I thought it was.  Then I pulled out the camera and snapped off several shots.  Little did I know, I was taking pictures of the wrong hole in the tree.  After reviewing my photos and realizing my mistake, I had to find the little bird that kept ducking back into his hole.  After about an hour I finally got a few photos, and it is still very hard to tell what it is.  If you have already sneaked ahead and taken a look, I am pretty sure what you are seeing is ... ... an Eastern Screech-owl, gray morph. Rick Hamlin Rick, yes, I agree.   - Ric .

One Kittiwake at Grand Haven Monday Evening

.

As of 6:15 this evening one Black-legged Kittiwake was at Grand Haven's Chinook Pier at Dock Number 8.

- Feller DeWitt

.

Grand Haven Hooded Merganser

.

.
I found this male Hooded Merganser swimming near the dock in the Grand Haven Channel today (Feb. 4).

Rick Hamlin

.

Grand Haven Sunday

.

.
White-winged Scoter, Black-legged Kittiwake, "top side" Bald Eagle, White-tailed Deer and Greater Black-backed Gull.
.

Mike VanderStelt
.

1/4 mile away & grainy -- but the "shot of the day"

.

How long before you would run into this shot again? I wish it was a print-worthy shot, but I thought it was worth posting.

Mike VanderStelt
.

Local Lark, Creeper and Pileated

.
Some photos sent to us yesterday:  Horned Lark at the Wastewater by Susie Hughes; Brown Creeper and female Pileated Woodpecker by Richard Hamlin.  ( Click these photos, then click them again, if you like to count feathers!  - Ric )
.

.

Great Black-backed Gull, Etc. at Grand Haven

 .
Beautiful day!  A lot of folks looking for the Black-legged Kittiwake.  Evidently a couple of peope saw it; not I or 50-60 others who came to look.  This Great Black-backed Gull was very photogenic today.
.
Don Neumann

 .
Mute Swan coming in for landing.  Judging from his feet, he's not a fast swimmer.
.

 .
Also, some of these guys (Bald Eagles, not the fish):
.

Merlin at the Wastewater

.
This very cooperative Merlin was at the north end of Swanson Rd across from the granary on Sunday. (Feb. 13)

Mike Boston

Grand Haven - Cold and Windy but Worth It!

.

Lots of folks coming to see the Black-legged Kittiwake in Grand Haven and as you can see (last photo below) there are indeed two of them.  - Don Neumann

Don't stop just for them.. White winged Scoters are still there.  Peregrine Falcons were on the smoke stack today.

 And maybe it's just me, but the Bald Eagles are amazing!

February 10 to Mich-listers:

2 Black-legged Kittiwakes were seen today at about 4:00 p.m. in the water just off the point of Linear Park. The birds were seen readily from the boardwalk at Chinook Pier. 

Good Birding,
Jamie Krupka
.

Two Kittiwakes Confirmed

.

February 9 to Mich-listers:

Birders,

Today in Grand Haven there were 2 Black-legged Kittiwakes present near the warm water outlet.  Both birds were seen flying around over the water and sitting on the ice.  They were present from 2:30-3:45 p.m.

Good Birding,

Jonathan Lautenbach

.

Snipes at Wastewater Tuesday

.
Rick Hamlin emailed:
.
I saw 4 Wilson's Snipe at the Wastewater today (Feb. 8). I couldn't get all four of them to pose in one picture for me. I may need to talk to Mike V. about his next class; hopefully it includes posing wild game. I did get a picture with three of them and I suppose if I had changed out my lens, I could have gotten all four, but they would have been pretty hard to see. Don't feel obligated to post these photos; I just wanted to let everyone know that there are now more than two. They are still hunting the same ditch.

Rick Hamlin

Rick,

No obligation, but these are worth posting.  Thanks!

- Ric
.

Kittiwake and Scoter at Grand Haven Tuesday

.
Charlie DeWitt emailed, "Don's pictures show all the field marks except one, the feet!  Come on, Don, what's the problem?  :-)  To the nice couple from Lansing, I hope your pictures turn out okay.  Some people have all the luck.  When they went for the Green-tailed Towhee, it was sitting in the feeder.  The Varied Thrush at Berrien Springs was no problem. And it took them a whole thirty seconds to find the Black-legged Kittiwake.  I guess some people just live right!" ... and Charlie took the photo below.

This afternoon Carol and I drove down to Grand Haven and saw the kittiwake flying among the gulls at 2:10 west of the downtown bleachers and further west between 2:40 and 3:00 saw the male White-winged Scoter fishing in the channel east of the condos on the north side.

- Ric

.

Great Day in Grand Haven

.

Great day (Feb. 7) to get out in Grand Haven today. The Black-legged Kittiwake was near the marina.  I was told there was a second down in the channel but didn't see it.  A lot of Mergansers, Common and Red-breasted (RB w/ Kittiwake in picture).  Five White-winged Scoters, two males (picture).  Also a large number of Common Goldeneye (picture). At about 3 p.m. I was ready to leave and eight Bald Eagles showed up looking for a snack.  (Pictured) two on the ice and six in the trees beyond the Northshore Marina building. Can you find them all?

- Don Neumann

.